Chris Van Dusen
Chris Van Dusen (born March 17, 1960) is an American illustrator and author of picture books. He has written picture books including If I Built a Car (2005) and The Circus Ship (2009), and has illustrated books including the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo.
Chris Van Dusen
- Born
- 17 March 1960
- Birthplace
- Portland, Maine
- Education
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Occupation
- Illustrator, writer
- Nationality
- United States
- Honours
- E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books
- Languages
- English
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Chris Van Dusen (born March 17, 1960) is an American illustrator and author of picture books. He has written picture books including If I Built a Car (2005) and The Circus Ship (2009), and has illustrated books including the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo.
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Chris Van Dusen (born 1960) is an American children's writer, illustrator and picture book writer. The children's writer was born in Portland. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Born — 17 March 1960 • Birthplace — Portland, Maine • Education — University of Massachusetts Dartmouth • Occupation — Illustrator, writer • Genre — Children's literature • Website — chrisvandusen.com
Early life and education
Early life and education
Chris Van Dusen was born in Portland, Maine. As a child he frequently drew pictures with his brothers. He loved the rhythm of Dr. Seuss's books and the visual detail of Robert McCloskey's illustrations, and has said McCloskey's 1952 book One Morning in Maine is his favorite book. Other inspirations include Barbara Cooney and E. B. White. In 1982, Van Dusen graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine art from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Following his graduation, he worked as a waiter before getting a part-time job in Lowell, Massachusetts, at a magazine for teenagers, where he began to publish his cartoons and illustrations. IN 1985 he moved to Camden, Maine.
Personal life
Personal life
Van Dusen and his wife Lori have two adult sons. The couple lives in coastal town in Maine and have a yellow lab named Opal.
Children's books
In 2000, he published his first picture book, Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee. As of 2025 he is the author-illustrator of 12 books, including If I Built a Car (2005) and The Circus Ship (2009). In 2015, he published his first non-rhyming story, Hattie and Hudson. He has illustrated an additional 18 books by other writers, including the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo. Van Dusen says his illustrations are painted in gouache on an illustration board. He enjoys seeing children's reactions to his books, and frequently visits schools around New England. In 2026, Van Dusen's work was displayed at the Maine Maritime Museum in an exhibition called "Upon That Isle in Maine: The Story & Works of Chris Van Dusen".
Cartoons and illustrations
Van Dusen worked as a freelance illustrator for 10 years, publishing much of his work in children's magazines such as Nickelodeon, FamilyFun, and Disney Adventures. He created a poster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and illustrated several L.L.Bean catalog covers. He created the lobster on the Maine state license plate. In about 1991 he created illustrations for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, including a sea otter T-shirt that Taylor Swift wore in 2025, which led to the shirt to being reissued.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Interviews — Art of the Picture Book. Art of the Picture Book.
- 2.Children's author brings love for books to Livermore Elementary. Livermore Falls Advertiser. A3. 2013-03-27.
- 3.Bio Chris Van Dusen. www.chrisvandusen.com.
- 4.Dusen, Chris Van. Chris Van Dusen Likes the Kid Classics, Too. Midcoast Villager. 2025-11-26.
- 5.The big, little world of Chris Van Dusen PenBay Pilot. www.penbaypilot.com. 2019-03-05.
- 6.FAQs Chris Van Dusen. www.chrisvandusen.com.
- 7.Blackmore, As told to Willy. Chris Van Dusen Was Surprised as Anyone When Taylor Swift Wore His T-Shirt. Midcoast Villager. 2025-11-17.
- 8.If Chris Van Dusen knew his T-shirt would be worn by Taylor Swift, he probably would have kept it. Kennebec Journal. A6. 2025-12-03.
- 9.Author Q&A: Children's book illustrator Chris Van Dusen talks rhyme, writing and Maine as inspiration - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. 2015-02-01.
- 10.Chris Van Dusen's children's books come to life in Maine Maritime exhibit. Portland Press Herald. E1. 2025-02-23.
- 11.Events calendar Archives. Lewiston Sun Journal.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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